SCOTT Nicholls is confident results will improve for Oxford Cheetahs as they feel their way into the season.

The newly-reformed club go to SGB Championship leaders Leicester Lions tonight (7pm) searching for a morale-boosting victory.

Cheetahs have won only two of their opening five fixtures in the second tier, while they fell at the first hurdle in the Knockout Cup as Redcar Bears progressed.

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Captain Nicholls said: “It has been inconsistent, but it’s still early days. People are still finding their feet and things are certainly changing.

“The season is a marathon not a sprint, so we aren’t going to get down about it.

“If we make the play-offs then people will forget about the bad meetings at the start of the year. We’ve just got to look at the bigger picture.”

Cheetahs are eighth in the Championship, with the top six qualifying for the play-offs at the end of the season.

Leicester, meanwhile, have won their first six league and cup meetings at home, many of them by comfortable margins.

Cheetahs are aiming to end that 100 per cent record and Nicholls insists the visitors have what it takes.

He said: "It will be tough, but if it wasn't tough then it wouldn't be doing the league justice.

"We've got the team and our riders are capable of springing a surprise.

"It's certainly doable, you can't take anything for granted in speedway."